Can ovarian cancer be treated?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Ovarian cancer is certainly treatable. Its treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. For patients with early-stage ovarian cancer, the treatment is mainly radical surgery, followed by determining the need for additional adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy based on specific pathological staging, the presence of high-risk factors for recurrence such as vascular tumor thrombus and neural invasion, and the situation of lymph node metastasis. For patients with advanced ovarian cancer, the treatment may involve debulking surgery and chemotherapy, with chemotherapy being the main treatment. Chemotherapy also needs to take into account the patient's general condition, along with local pelvic radiotherapy. These are the treatment methods for ovarian cancer, and the specific treatment plan should be selected based on staging and the patient's general condition, as well as the presence of other serious underlying diseases.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is ovarian cancer hereditary?

The onset of ovarian cancer may be somewhat related to family history or genetic factors. Therefore, patients with a family history of ovarian cancer may have a higher risk of developing the disease compared to the general population. However, this doesn't mean that a patient with ovarian cancer will definitely pass the condition to their offspring; it merely indicates a certain level of heredity. Furthermore, for those with a family history of breast cancer, colon cancer, and endometrial cancer, it is crucial for their descendants to undergo enhanced screenings for ovarian cancer and these diseases, as their risk of developing these conditions may be higher than that of the average person.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can ovarian cancer be detected by transvaginal ultrasound?

Ovarian cancer can generally be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound. During this procedure, we can find cystic or cystic-solid, or a solid mass in the ovaries. If a blood test for tumor markers shows a significant increase in CA125, especially in combination with a large amount of ascites, we must strongly suspect ovarian cancer. In such cases, patients should undergo a tumor biopsy. By taking a biopsy and confirming it pathologically, we can definitively diagnose ovarian cancer. Therefore, most ovarian cancer patients can indeed be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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How long can one live with ovarian cancer?

The lifespan of ovarian cancer patients depends on several factors including the specific stage of the cancer, the patient's sensitivity and response to treatment, and the overall health of the patient, leading to significant individual variability. The cancer is typically classified into stages from one to four, with stage one being the earliest and stage four being the most advanced. Generally, patients diagnosed at an earlier stage tend to have a better prognosis and a greater chance of survival compared to those with advanced ovarian cancer. Additionally, patients in advanced stages who respond well to treatments like chemotherapy typically have a better prognosis and longer survival times compared to those who are less responsive to such treatments. Hence, it is impossible to generalize as the individual differences are substantial.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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What are the early symptoms of ovarian cancer?

The early symptoms of ovarian cancer are not severe or common clinically. Some patients may experience abdominal distension and pain. Some may have menstrual irregularities, such as prolonged or shortened menstrual cycles, increased menstrual flow, or irregular bleeding outside of menstruation. Additionally, a small number of patients may experience pelvic pain due to local tumor compression caused by ovarian cancer. This pain occasionally radiates to the perineal area and is generally mild, rarely affecting the patient's quality of life. Furthermore, a minor proportion of ovarian cancer patients, particularly those with tumors having endocrine functions, may exhibit symptoms associated with paraneoplastic syndromes.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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How is ovarian cancer treated?

Our treatment principle is that once an ovarian tumor is detected, surgical treatment should be performed. First and foremost, we need to confirm the diagnosis. Second, we should clarify the pathological staging of the ovarian cancer to guide the treatment. It's not a single approach; it's a comprehensive treatment plan. For example, if it is early stage and there are no surgical contraindications, we can proceed with surgical treatment. After the surgery, we can provide adjunctive chemotherapy. If surgery is not immediately feasible, we can also provide neoadjuvant therapy to reduce the stage before proceeding with ovarian cancer surgery. Moreover, there is now targeted therapy and immunotherapy for ovarian cancer, so it is a comprehensive treatment plan.